2021–2022 Afghan protests
| 2021 Afghanistan protests | |
|---|---|
| Part of Panjshir conflict | |
| Date | 17 August 2021 – present |
| Location | |
| Caused by | Taliban seizing control of Afghanistan |
| Goals |
|
| Methods | Demonstrations |
| Status | Ongoing
|
| Deaths and injuries | |
| Death(s) | At least 10 |
| Injuries | At least a dozen |
The 2021 Afghan protests are ongoing protests in Afghanistan against the Taliban.
Background
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2021) |
On 15 August 2021, the Taliban captured Kabul. This sent many into panic, prompting evacuations of military, embassy staff, and partially, civilians.
Protests
On 17 August 2021, small protests consisting of women were reported in Kabul, demanding equal rights for women.[1][2]
Larger protests in emerged in eastern Pashtun-inhabited[3] cities the following day. On 18 August, the Taliban opened fire on demonstrators in Jalalabad, killing 3 and wounding more than a dozen. The Taliban had promised not to be brutal in the way they rule. Witnesses said the deaths happened when local residents tried to install Afghanistan's national flag at a square in Jalalabad.[4][5] There were also reports of people trying to plant Afghanistan's national flag in the eastern cities of Khost and Asadabad.[6]
The next day, 19 August, Afghan Independence Day, protests were reported as spreading to more cities, including large separate protests in Kabul, with 200 people gathered in one demonstration before it was broken up by force by the Taliban.[7] Later on the 19th, some outlets reported that the protests in Kabul had swelled to thousands of protestors.[8] There were multiple reports of the Taliban flag being torn down and replaced by the flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and protestors were reported as flying the latter flag.[9][7] Several protestors were reported killed after they were fired upon while they were waving national flags during Afghan Independence Day in Asadabad,[9][7] where "hundreds of people" were described as joining the protest.[9] In Kabul on the 19th, a procession of cars and people carried a long Afghan tricolor in a symbol of defiance.[10] In Khost Province on the 19th, the Taliban violently broke up another protest, and declared a 24-hour curfew; meanwhile, in Nangarhar Province, a video was posted showing a bleeding protestor with a gunshot wound being carried away.[10]
On 20 August, Afghan women held a protest gathering about their worries for the future and about women's participation in the new government. Human rights activist Fariha Esar stated, "We will not relinquish our right to education, the right to work, and our right to political and social participation."[11]
Reactions
Despite promises of moderation, Taliban forces were reported to have assaulted and beaten up journalists who were covering the protests in Jalalabad and Kabul.[12]
On 19 August, the Taliban urged Muslim clergy to tell their congregants to remain in the country and counter "negative propaganda" on Thursday, and urged Afghans to go back to work.[10] The Taliban also called on the Imams ahead of the Friday prayers, to convince people against leaving the country. [13]
Amrullah Saleh, formerly the vice president and the declared acting "caretaker" President of Afghanistan by the Panjshir resistance per the Afghan constitution in the event of the flight abroad of former President Ashraf Ghani, saluted protestors "who carry the national flag and thus stand for dignity of the nation" on 19 August.[9] However, the priority of the US is still geared towards securing the perimeter of the airport, as well as raising the number of evacuees out of the capital Kabul, Pentagon officials disclosed.[14]
See also
- Afghan civil disobedience movements in the 2010s:
References
- ^ "Watch Afghan women on the streets of Kabul protest against the Taliban". The Week. August 17, 2021.
- ^ "Watch: Afghan women hold street protest as Taliban fighters look on". The Indian Express. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ "Taliban face stiff resistance in several provinces; violence breaks out in Pashtun-dominated Jalalabad". The Week. August 18, 2021.
- ^ Deadly Jalalabad protests as Taliban consolidate Islamist rule
- ^ Taliban violently disperse rare protest, killing 1 person
- ^ Afghanistan’s Taliban Rulers Meet Their First Political Protests With Gunfire
- ^ a b c "As demonstrations spread, the Taliban face growing challenges in running the nation". New York Times. August 19, 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan war: Deadly protests as people fight against Taliban takeover". News.Com.Au. August 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Afghan protests spread to Kabul in early challenge to Taliban". Reuters. August 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c Ahmad Seir, Rahim Faiez, Kathy Gannon and Jon Gambrell (August 19, 2021). "Afghans protest Taliban in emerging challenge to their rule". Associated Press.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Rahimi, Zahra (2021-08-20). "Afghan Women to Taliban: 'Include Us In Your Govt'". TOLOnews. Archived from the original on 2021-08-20. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
- ^ "Reality behind 'press conference': Taliban brutally assault journalists for covering protests, prevent woman anchor from entering office". India Today. August 19, 2021.
- ^ "Taliban Urge Afghan Unity as Protests Spread to Kabul".
- ^ "Afghanistan updates: Protesters fly Afghan national flag in defiance of Taliban".